News

P&Z OK's Hawleyville Conceptual Sidewalk Plan

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: December 08, 2015 12:00 am

Following discussion at a December 3 session, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members approved two illustrated aerial photos depicting the Hawleyville Conceptual Sidewalk Plan. George Benson, tow...

Commission Proposes $6.7 Million Police Budget

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: December 07, 2015 12:00 am

Police Commission members at a December 1 session approved a proposed police budget of $6,704,463 for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The proposed budget reflects a 4.6 percent spending increase when compare...

Pearl Street Residents Press Police To Curb Speeders

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: December 07, 2015 12:00 am

In response to the public safety concerns of Pearl Street residents, who want to curb the speed of motorists there, police officials will further study the problem in seeking a solution. About a dozen...

Local Home Invasion Followed Apparently Unrelated Assault In Monroe

By John Voket

Published: December 07, 2015 12:00 am

This report was updated at 11:25 am December 8 to include a statement from the Shelton Fire Chief. All four of Newtown's on-duty officers faced a tense and harrowing scene as they confronted an a...

School Board Approves Furniture, Tech Equipment For New Sandy Hook School

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: December 04, 2015 12:00 am

Diversified Project Management’s Geralyn Hoerauf presented the fifth phase of the new Sandy Hook Elementary School building project to the Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday, December 1. The...

Police List Road Closure, Parking Bans For Ram Pasture Tree Lighting

Published: December 04, 2015 12:00 am

Town police have announced a road closure and parking bans that will be in effect near The Ram Pasture from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, December 4, in connection with the town’s annual Christmas tree lightin...

School Board Approves Teacher Contracts

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: December 04, 2015 12:00 am

The Board of Education recently approved two contracts, and it is set to approve another contract at its next scheduled meeting, December 15. At a meeting on November 4, the board voted to approve the...

School Board Elects New Officers

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: December 04, 2015 12:00 am

The Board of Education voted for its new slate of officers at its meeting on Tuesday, December 1. Democrat Rebekah Harriman-Stites and Republican Andrew Clure were elected to the board at the start of...

Police Commission Raises Security Issue On Permanent Memorial Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: December 04, 2015 12:00 am

In reviewing a proposal for the site of a permanent memorial honoring the memory of the 26 people killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, Police Commission members are recommending th...

Formulating A Future For Fairfield Hills

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: December 03, 2015 12:00 am

Thomas Connors wondered, could the Fairfield Hills property be used particularly for events? Mr Connors chairs the board overseeing the town-owned space. “We already have events, but we don’t have the...

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

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